“Did You Get Your Fourtune?”

To follow on from the previous post. The Mythological Chinese Character Coins are now ‘unavailable online’

This usually means that quantities are limited. What is on the shelf is the end of the 2009 mintage.

Get in quick.

“How to Have Good Fortune In 2010″

Chinese Mythological Characters Silver Coin Fortune

With 2009 coming to a close, its a great time to buy any 2009 coins. Those without a fixed mintage quantity will stop being made and often in early 2010 the actual mintages are announced.

In my experience these can often be very low numbers and thus make the coins very collectable

Vivid characters hold centre stage in Chinese mythology, a vast anthology of ancient legends, folklore and traditional beliefs. Some of the most popular characters are revered as embodiments of fortune, success, longevity and wealth. Displayed in many homes and businesses, these ‘lucky’ figures exercise a powerful influence in many people’s lives.

Character Symbolising Fortune

This rectangular coin portrays a Chinese mythological character symbolising fortune. The colourfully illustrated figure on the reverse is accompanied by its name in Chinese script inside the representation of an ‘auspicious’ cloud.

“Celebrate Good Defeating Evil”

Good Triumphs Over Evil - Archangel Michael Slays the Dragon

The Angel is one of the world’s most beautiful and popular coins. The Isle of Man Government introduced a new design in 2008 showing a classic image of Archangel Michael slaying the Dragon. This is just the third Angel design in the coin’s 25 year history. It brings back some of the features from the first Angel coin, including Michael’s feathered wings and the Celtic band around the border. To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Silver Angel coin, a high relief Proof 999. 1oz Silver Angel coin is being struck for the first time, highlighting every detail of this exceptional coin.

“The Lion Roars Again On The Worlds First Coin”

"The Lydian Trite - the First Coin"

Hi all.

It seems that Lions are a popular coin theme. I recently wrote about the Lionfish coin from the Perth Mint and now the Lydian Lion has come to my attention. The  Lydian Lion is reportedly the first coin ever made.  The website as some very interesting info on this early coin, I have included an extract below

Lions have been considered kings of the jungle, and symbols of kingly authority, from time immemorial. One of the most fascinating coins of all time, a coin that I believe is the first true coin, features one the most fascinating lions ever to appear on a coin.The coin illustrated above is a Lydian third stater, or trite, minted sometime around 600 BC in Lydia, Asia Minor (current-day Turkey), a country in close geographic and cultural proximity to the Greek colonies in Asia Minor.These coins are pricey (typically costing in the $1,000 to $2,000 range), and though scarce are not especially rare,[2]just in significant demand because of their history, the evocativeness of their design, their metallurgic characteristics, and their mystery. Other coins may vie for the title of the world’s first coin, also from Lydia, nearby in Ionia, in the Middle East, and across the world in India and China, though none do so as persuasively.[3]

The Lydian Lion is the one coin I’d personally call “The Coin.” It directly preceded ancient Greek coinage, which through Rome begot all Western coinage, and which through the Seleukids, Parthians, and Sassanians begot all Islamic coinage. Indian coinage has largely been a product of Greek, Roman, and Islamic influences.[4]Chinese coinage, though it probably developed independently, was succeeded by Western-style coinage in the late nineteenth century.[5]Other countries in Asia, in Africa, and elsewhere have adopted the Western approach to coinage as well. It’s not chauvinistic, and it’s only mildly hyperbolic, to suggest that virtually all coinage in use today is the progeny of the Lydian Lion, that it’s the Adam of coins.[6]

“Governor Lachlan Macquarie, The Father of Australia”

Governor Maquarie 1oz Silver Proof Coin

“If  you have ever been to the Scottish island of Mull, as I have, you will soon realise just how fantatic it is, and must have been 200 years ago, to come to Australia”

Lachlan Macquarie, who began his 11-year tenure as Governor of New South Wales 200 years ago on 1 January 1810, ushered in unprecedented social, economic and architectural development in the colony founded in 1788 as a prison for British criminals.

With his enlightened attitude towards convicts, which rested on his belief in their rehabilitation in colonial society, Macquarie paved the way for former prisoners to hold positions of authority in the fledgling society.  His financial foresight was responsible for the creation of the colony’s first bank, as well as its own unique coinage – the holey dollar and dump.  Macquarie also oversaw a golden era in building and construction, during which many famous sandstone buildings and vital infrastructure were completed.

Although free-settlers opposed to social reform and the cost of his public works program reflected negatively on Macquarie’s achievements, there is no doubt that the visionary Governor played a major role in shaping a new direction for the colony.  For some, Macquarie’s importance is summed up by the epitaph “THE FATHER OF AUSTRALIA”, which appears on his tomb on the Scottish Isle of Mull.

As a nation we have turned pretty well for a country that started life as a convict settlement. Imagine your average British convict, landing in Sydney to beautiful skies and vast waterways. Beats England any day.

200^th Anniversary Design

The coin’s reverse inscription LACHLAN MACQUARIE GOVERNOR OF NSW 1810 - 1821 is accompanied by his portrait and images of Sydney’s ‘Rum’ Hospital and a holey dollar and dump.  As well as The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark, the reverse also incorporates a representation of words in an 1817 dispatch in which Macquarie urged Britain to formally adopt the name ‘Australia’.

Extremely Limited Mintage

The Perth Mint will release no more than 7,500 of these coins.

Technical Specifications

Silver Content (Troy oz)	1
Monetary Denomination (AUD)	1
Fineness (% purity)	99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g)	31.135
Maximum Diameter (mm)	40.60
Maximum Thickness (mm)	4.00

“The Leafy Sea Dragon, Environmental and Economic Protection”

Australian Sea Life Leafy Sea Dragon Silver Proof Coin

“Announcing the Leafy Sea Dragon, 2nd in a Very Popular Series”

The first coin in this series has SOLD OUT, become “endangered”,  in a matter of weeks. I hope you got some.They are showing about an 80% increase in value already, judging by the ebay prices.

It has usually been the first in the series of coins that has been the most popular, particulalry in the case of the Redback Coin. This series of Australian Sea Life is a little different I reckon. Becuase they are 1/2 ounce silver coins, they are more affordable. More potential customers usually means higher demand! Which means higher prices in the future.

Get yourself a Leafy Sea Dragon coin a.s.a.p.,  I reckon they will sell out as quickly as the Lionfish. The next coin is not due till middle of next year so grab a great Christmas present for your kids and get hem interested in coins and our environment!

“Attention Marathon Runners”

Pheidippides Marathon Run 1oz High Relief Silver Proof Coin

“Don’t Be The One Who Lets Your Favourite Marathon Runner Miss Out This Christmas”

Your loved ones that love to run long distances will greatly appreciate the fact that you thought enough of them to get them a unique gift for Christmas. Any long distance runner will love this coin. Personally I am a sprinter, well at least I run out of puff after about 80m, I reckon this coin will run out very quickly.

According to tradition, this year marks the 2,500^th anniversary of Pheidippidis’ 25-mile run to Athens with news of the Greek army’s historic triumph at the Battle of Marathon. His remarkable long-distance achievement inspired the introduction of Olympic marathon running in 1896, and has also influenced countless ordinary joggers to attempt the gruelling 26.22 miles at one of today’s many high-profile marathon events.

What makes it unique is its 6mm thick! That’s nearly 3 times thicker than most coins. Thats makes it very different.

With a recent rise of 4.5% in 1 day, silver coins have never looked better as an investment option.

Of course I  advocate a collectable silver coin for added potential gains and Perth Mint has come to the party with another special silver coin.

The Perth Mint will release no more than 5,000 of these coins worldwide, which compared to so many other coins released out there, from mints all around the world, is a very limited which means collectable mintage.

Technical Specifications

Silver Content (Troy oz)	1
Monetary Denomination (TVD)	1
Fineness (% purity)	99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g)	31.135
Maximum Diameter (mm)	32.60
Maximum Thickness (mm)	6.00

Predictions: The next BIG moves…

I thought I would share some of these thoughts from a recent email I received. I have removed the irrelevant bits as pertains to this post. I have highlighted the relevant bits

Next, gold, gold, gold…

…Two ways you can play this… Just ring up the Perth Gold Mint and simply buy…

“Roar Into Your Collection With The Lionfish”

The Lionfish Silver Coin

This could be the next Redback coin. The Redback was the first in a new series as is the Lionfish coin. It jumped from a $149 issue price in 2006 to recent views on eBay at $1995 AUD! That is good ROI for any investment, particularly precious metals.

Global warming may destroy our coastal reefs and thus the habitat of the Lionfish, so too may this coin be hard to get in the near future, due to the popularity of them.

Although mintage [10000] figures are higher than the redback, it is only 1/2 an ounce and thus available to more peoples budgets.

As of this post date they have already stopped selling them online. Keep an eye on this as sometimes they only do this for the initial surge of orders when a new cion is realeased. Or has it nearly run out? Get one form wherever you can.

** Special Tip – Australia Post Post Offices often keep some coins for sale at a retail level. I would hazard a quess that most of the staff wouldn’t have a clue as to the collectable nature of the coins. Just another product they sell. **

There are 5 coins altogether in this series of reef dwelling sea life,  I will post or tweet about them as they become available. Joining the Lionfish coin (2009), future releases in this series depict a Leafy Sea Dragon (November 2009), Clownfish (January 2010), Seahorse (March 2010) and Moray Eel (May 2010).

“Laugh All The Way To The Bank With 20 Kookaburras”

20 Laughing Kookas

I really like this set of  beautiful Kookaburra coins. Not just because I like birds, but it celebrates 20 years of designs of the Kookaburra bullion coins.

It totals 1oz of gold for all the coins together, so at 1/20th of an oz each, they are rather tiny and have a fair premium over the spot price of gold.

Here’s the ‘kicker’, it is a very limited mintage of only 2009 coins!.

That’s not many folks. Plenty of gold coins out there with much higher mintage. And that is the global limit! Where ever you are that means a great amount of collectability.

If I had the spare cash, and at this point in life, I don’t, I would buy as many of these sets as I could. I’d store them away and never get them out.

Your children’s children will be very thankful for your efforts.

Exclusive ‘P20’ Mintmark

The reverse of each coin includes an exclusive ‘P20’ mintmark.

Technical Specifications

Gold Content (Troy oz)	0.05
Monetary Denomination (TVD)	5
Fineness (% purity)	99.99
Minimum Gross Weight (g)	1.556
Maximum Diameter (mm)	14.60
Maximum Thickness (mm)	1.40

“How a Robot Truck Can Transform Your Investments”

Optimus-Prime

25 years ago the transformers burst onto my TV and I loved it. Good vs. Evil in the form of robots from outer space, doing battle, here on earth. Loved It! The revamped Transformers movies in recent years took the original concept, to a whole new level.

The recent release of the Transformers Coins from the Perth Mint, including Optimus Prime [head of the good guys] and Megatron [Boss evil dude] coincided nicely with the recent movie release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, making these coins highly sought after.

The dealers I have spoken to, only received about half of their requested quantities, such was the demand. I had to drive around a few dealers to get mine. Perth Mint stopped online purchases. All this leads to a lot of collectability.

Issue Price = AUS$97.50  – July 2009
Mintage = 5000
“buy it now” eBay price at AUS$150 – August 2009 – 50% R.O.I. in 3 weeks!

• Official Movie Coin – Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver – 1oz – proof quality
• Optimus Prime Reverse
• Issued as Legal Tender
• Unique Presentation Packaging
• Numbered Certificate of Authenticity